Scribe Collection (#5)

Francois Philippe as Salvator in Les Freres Invisibles, 1819
Francois Philippe as Salvator in Les Freres Invisibles by Anne-Honore-Joseph Duveyrier and Eugene Scribe, Theatre de la Porte St. Martin, 1819. Handcoloured lithograph by F

Chinese man writing with a brush at a desk, Qing Dynasty
Chinese man writing with a brush at a desk. The brush is made of rabbit hair and bamboo. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste

Letterwriting, 1858 (colour litho)
STC468931 Letterwriting, 1858 (colour litho) by Preziosi, Amadeo (1816-82); Private Collection; (add.info.: Printed by Lemercier, Paris, 1858; ); The Stapleton Collection; Maltese, out of copyright

Gontier and Bernard-Leon in Le Baiser au Porteur
French actor Tonon Gontier (1785-1841) as Colonel Derville and Bernard-Leon (1785-1858) as farmer Thibaut in the comedy Le Baiser au Porteur by Eugene Scribe at the Theatre de Madame, 1824

Ponchard and Rigaud in the comic opera La
French opera singers Ponchard and Madame Antoinette-Eugenie Rigaud in the comic opera La Neige by Eugene Scribe and Daniel Auber at the Feydeau room, Opera Comique, 1823

Bernard-Leon as Droguignard in La demoiselle
French actor Bernard-Leon (1785-1858) as Droguignard in the comedy La demoiselle et la dame by Eugene Scribe at the Theatre du Gymnase, 1822

Gontier as Stanislas in Michel et Christine
French actor Tonon Gontier (1785-1841) as Stanislas in Michel et Christine by Eugene Scribe at the Theatre du Gymnase, 1821

French child actress Leontine Fay in La petite
French child actress Leontine Fay (1810-1876) in La petite soeur by Eugene Scribe at the Theatre du Gymnase, 1821. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Charles Malos Almanach des Spectacles par K

Adrien Perlet as Fringale in le Gastronome
French comic actor Adrien Perlet (1795-1850) as Fringale in le Gastronome sans Argent by Eugene Scribe at the Theatre du Gymnase, 1821

Mlle. Louise Perrin as Elvina in Le Petit Dragon by Eugene Scribe and Delestre-Poirson at the Theatre du Vaudeville. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Charles Malos Almanach des Spectacles par

French actor Tonon Gontier (1785-1841) as Comte Ory in the vaudeville piece Le Comte Ory by E. Scribe and Delestre-Poirson at the Theatre du Vaudeville, Paris

Comic actor Charles Potier as Lantimeche in
Comic actor Charles Potier (1774-1838) as Lantimeche in Combat des Montagnes by Eugene Scribe at the Theatre des Varietes, Paris, 1816

French actress Mlle. Pauline as Henriette
French actress Mlle. Pauline (Jeanne Marguerite Nicole Lavrilliere) as Henriette in Jarretiere de la Mariee by Eugene Scribe at the Theatre des Varietes, Paris, 1816

Egyptian scribe and Greek schoolboy (litho)
2774881 Egyptian scribe and Greek schoolboy (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Egyptian scribe and Greek schoolboy)

A Victorian New Year card of a frog dressed as a scribe writing on a piece of paper with
3604434 A Victorian New Year card of a frog dressed as a scribe writing on a piece of paper with a quill, c.1880 (colour litho) by English School

A Victorian die-cut shape New Year card of a scribe in top hat
3605724 A Victorian die-cut shape New Year card of a scribe in top hat and pince nez holding a slate, c.1880 (colour litho) by English School

St Luke, 1877 (stained glass)
3475409 St Luke, 1877 (stained glass) by Burne-Jones, Edward Coley (1833-98); Lanercost Priory, Cumbria, UK; eAlastair Carew-Cox; English, out of copyright

Meeting of the council of the Emperor Charlemagne (engraving)
3647197 Meeting of the council of the Emperor Charlemagne (engraving) by Neuville, Alphonse Marie de (1835-85) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Bede and his Scribe (engraving)
3634852 Bede and his Scribe (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bede and his Scribe)

Ms 528 fol. 1r Lectionary, the copyist (vellum) (b / w photo)
XCM252908 Ms 528 fol.1r Lectionary, the copyist (vellum) (b/w photo) by Flemish School, (12th century); Bibliotheque Municipale, Cambrai, France; (add.info.: Lectionnaire; ); Flemish, out of copyright

The Venerable Bede translating the Gospel, illustration from Hutchinson
STC363606 The Venerable Bede translating the Gospel, illustration from Hutchinsons Story of the British Nation, c.1920 (litho) by Penrose

Xenophon dictating his history, illustration from Hutchinson
IL322129 Xenophon dictating his history, illustration from Hutchinsons History of the Nations, 1915 (litho) by Weatherstone, A.C

John the Evangelist, c. 1360 (tempera on poplar wood)
BFM286500 John the Evangelist, c.1360 (tempera on poplar wood) by Italian School, (14th century); 69x33 cm; Lindenau Museum, Altenburg

Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery, c. 1710 (oil on canvas)
488159 Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery, c.1710 (oil on canvas) by Ricci, Sebastiano (1658-1734); 39.7x50.5 cm; Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MN

Ms Lat. Q. v. I. 126 f. 98v St. Mark, from the Book of Hours of Louis d Orleans
XJL197057 Ms Lat. Q.v.I.126 f.98v St. Mark, from the Book of Hours of Louis d Orleans, 1469 (vellum) by Colombe, Jean (c.1430-c.93); total:225x155 cm; National Library, St

Ms 50 Fol. 1v The Copyist Presents his Book to St. Michael
XIR166594 Ms 50 Fol.1v The Copyist Presents his Book to St. Michael, from the Recognitiones by Saint Clement (vellum) by French School, (11th century); Bibliotheque Municipale, Avranches

Christ before Pilate, published by Riedel, Nuremberg, 1830 (coloured engraving)
DHC379967 Christ before Pilate, published by Riedel, Nuremberg, 1830 (coloured engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; Sammlung Hecht; German, out of copyright

Wisdom (Sapience) teaching the author the precepts of temperance
STC425596 Wisdom (Sapience) teaching the author the precepts of temperance, from Horologium Sapientiae by Henri Suso, c.1455 (vellum) by Master of Jean Rolin II

Milton dictating Paradise Lost, illustration from The Church of England
STC393399 Milton dictating Paradise Lost, illustration from The Church of England: A History for the People by H.D.M. Spence-Jones, pub

The Scriptorium of a Monastery, illustration from The Church of England
STC393350 The Scriptorium of a Monastery, illustration from The Church of England: A History for the People by H.D.M. Spence-Jones, pub

Fol. 79r Carlo Marsuppini (d. 1453) illustration from Controversia de Nobilitate
XIR184032 Fol.79r Carlo Marsuppini (d.1453) illustration from Controversia de Nobilitate by Buonaccorso da Montemagno (vellum) by French School, (15th century); Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo

Ms 22 fol. 139r Historiated initial C depicting a monk writing
XIR181205 Ms 22 fol.139r Historiated initial C depicting a monk writing, from Vitae Sanctorum, Santa Cruz de Coimbra (vellum) by Portuguese School, (12th century); Municipal Library, Porto

St. Mark writing his gospel, detail from the crypt (fresco)
JCL177116 St. Mark writing his gospel, detail from the crypt (fresco) by French School, (15th century); Collegiale Saint-Bonnet-le-Chateau

Schoolboys workbook, with Greek writing (pigment and wood)
AMQ107042 Schoolboys workbook, with Greek writing (pigment and wood) by Egyptian Ptolemaic Period (332-30 BC); Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK; eAshmolean Museum; Egyptian, out of copyright

Ecrivain japonais (engraving)
2814612 Ecrivain japonais (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ecrivain japonais. Illustration for Le Tour Du Monde (Hachette, 1867 2H)

Fr 2631 f. 1 Possible self portrait of William of Tyre writing at his desk
BAL52743 Fr 2631 f.1 Possible self portrait of William of Tyre writing at his desk, from Estoire d Outremer (vellum) by William of Tyre (Archbishop) (c.1130-85); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

Ms 1 f. vr Ezra writing the sacred books from memory in 458 BC
BAL52378 Ms 1 f.vr Ezra writing the sacred books from memory in 458 BC, from the Codex Amiatinus (vellum) by Anglo-Saxon; Biblioteca Medicea-Laurenziana, Florence

Pen case, from Tomb 75, Beni Hasan, Middle Kingdom, c. 2060-1786 BC (wood
AMQ107879 Pen case, from Tomb 75, Beni Hasan, Middle Kingdom, c.2060-1786 BC (wood) (see also 107034) by Egyptian, Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BC); Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

The god Thoth with Seti I (1394-1279 BC) in the Tomb of Seti I
XIR68330 The god Thoth with Seti I (1394-1279 BC) in the Tomb of Seti I, New Kingdom (painted stone) by Egyptian 19th Dynasty (c.1292-1187 BC); Valley of the Kings, Thebes

Deuteronomy: Frontispiece in which God makes the Laws, from the
STC67534 Deuteronomy: Frontispiece in which God makes the Laws, from the Nuremberg Bible (Biblia Sacra Germanaica) (coloured woodcut) by German School

Umeer Dost Mohammed Khan, from Characters and Costumes of Afghuanistan
STC161821 Umeer Dost Mohammed Khan, from Characters and Costumes of Afghuanistan written by Captain Lockyer Willis Hart, published 1843 (colour litho) by Hague

Scribes palette and a case for writing reeds, from the tomb of Tutankhamun (c
XZL149435 Scribes palette and a case for writing reeds, from the tomb of Tutankhamun (c.1370-52 BC) New Kingdom (ivory) (see also 228566) by Egyptian 18th Dynasty (c.1567-1320 BC); length

Tablet depicting four scribes at work, New Kingdom, c. 1400 BC (stone)
XIR158861 Tablet depicting four scribes at work, New Kingdom, c.1400 BC (stone) by Egyptian 18th Dynasty (c.1567-1320 BC); Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Florence, Italy; Egyptian, out of copyright

French soprano Mlle Virginie Dejazet as Mimi in the one-act vaudeville Grisettes by Scribe
6339824 French soprano Mlle Virginie Dejazet as Mimi in the one-act vaudeville Grisettes by Scribe and Dupin at the Gymnase-Dramatique, 1823 by Unknown Artist

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The art of the scribe has transcended time and cultures, leaving behind a rich legacy of knowledge and creativity. From the ancient Papyrus of Ani (Book of the Dead) to the intricate illustrations in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, these skilled individuals played a vital role in preserving history. In medieval times, scribes meticulously copied manuscripts, ensuring that valuable texts were not lost to time. Their dedication can be seen in depictions such as The Seven Liberal Arts from Hortus deliciarum or the Folio of Codex depicting Catalan Parliament. These works showcase their attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. Scribes also held important positions within legal systems like the Court of Exchequer and Court of Common Pleas. They recorded proceedings with precision, ensuring justice was served and documented for future generations. Beyond administrative duties, scribes were often scholars themselves. In 16th-century Europe, they immersed themselves in academia, contributing to intellectual pursuits alongside renowned thinkers. Their work helped shape our understanding of various subjects throughout history. From ancient Egypt's Stela of Ani depicting a royal scribe to The Seated Scribe statue dating back thousands of years before Christ, these artifacts demonstrate how highly regarded this profession was across civilizations. Even beyond written records, scribes found inspiration in nature and poetry. A Japanese poet sitting beneath a cherry tree captures their connection with beauty and contemplation while transcribing thoughts onto paper. Throughout history, whether it be recording prophecies like Jeremiah dictating his visions or copying manuscripts by candlelight during medieval times – one thing remains constant: the indispensable role played by these dedicated individuals known as scribes.